Merchandise marking gun

ABSTRACT

A marking gun for printing adhesive labels with pricing and the like having a printing head connected to an operating trigger for impressing the labels, and a drive wheel linked to the operating trigger by a ratchet and pawl assembly for incrementally advancing the labels carried on a backing tape by engaging radial drive teeth on the drive wheel into perforations in the backing tape after the pre-cut adhesive labels have been impressed by the printing head and separated from the backing tape.

v United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,800,701

Martin Apr. 2, 1974 [54] MERCHANDISE MARKING GUN 2,828,688 4/1958 Pusey101 288 X 3,611,929 lO/l971 Schrotz.... 101/292 [75] Inventor: WilliamMartln, Campbell, Calif. 1,416880 5/922 sandalsw 242/552 [73] Assignee:Uniline Corporation, Union City, 31420372 1969 Kapla OI/39] Calif.3,116,688 l/1964 Dudley 101/291 X Filfidi y 18, 1973 PrimaryExaminerR0bert E. Pulfrey 2 pp Assistant ExaminerE. M. COVGII Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Limbach, Limbach & Related US. Application Data Sutton[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 134,346, April 15, 1971,

abmdmd- 57 ABSTRACT [52] U 5 Cl l01/288 156/384 A marking gun forprinting adhesive labels with pric- [51] B4lf H08 [58] Field of Search101/288, 291, 292, 92; 226/127, 157, 76, 82; 156/384 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,265,553 8/1968 Kind ct al. 101/288 X3,213,785 10/1965 Kramer 101/292 X 3,330,207 7/1967 De Mttn.... 101/923,231,446 H1966 Satas 101/288 X ing and the like having a printing headconnected to an eperating trigger for impressing the labels, and a drivewheel linked to the operating trigger by a ratchet and paw] assembly forincrementally advancing the labels carried on a backing tape by engagingradial drive teeth on the drive wheel into perforations in the back ingtape after the pre-cut adhesive labels have been impressed by theprinting head and separated from the backing tape.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures I PATENTEUAPR 2:914

SHEEI 1 B? 4 FIG- W/LL/AM W?/N i FIE- MM 1 Km ATTORNEV5 PATENIEDAPR 219MSHEET 2 0f 4 WILL/AM We fi/v (AMXM l 5.11;

A TTORNE V5 FIE '5- PATENTEDMR 21914 3800 701 sums 0f 4 ,Mmm

ATTOKNEV5 This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 134,346, filedApr. 15, 1971 now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Mass marketing of retail goods requires therepetitious marking of individual items with price or other information.Marks may either be directly stamped on the goods or first imprinted onadhesive labels and the labels affixed to the goods. The subject markingtool is of the latter category and contains a supply of adhesive labelsand a printing head with a variety of selectable characters which may beimpressed on the labels.

Although numerous marking tools of this type are presently availablethey are cumbersome and expensive. A primary problem in constructing alabel marker is in accurately advancing the labels to printing position.Some devices employ friction drive rollers to advance labels. However,when the rollers pull on silicone coated backing tape of the adhesivelabels, silicone eventually coats the rubber rollers and the rollerscease to operate properly. Other devices employ conveyer belts orshuttle mechanisms to advance the labels but the very complexity ofthese mechanisms often leads to their high cost and inefficiency.

The subject marking tool carries a supply of adhesive labels in a moldedplastic casing having a pistol grip and trigger. The trigger is directlyconnected to the printing head by a long pivot arm. Connected to thepivot arm by a ratchet and pawl assembly is a tape drive mechanism whichadvances the labels by engaging drive teeth in perforation slits in thebacking tape of the adhesive labels. The positive drive mechanism foradvancing the tape insures that the printing head properly marks eachlabel without drifting. Furthermore, by simple interchange of the drivewheel, different size labels can be accommodated. By further interchangeof the printing head, additional information, such as the addition of aprime mark may be imparted to a larger size label. The subjectmerchandise marking gun is compact, inexpensive and designed towithstand the substantial abuse received in the marketing field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view of themarking gun and adhesive label supply.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of the marking gun withcover removed.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken on lines 5--5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view of the marking gun of FIG. 4 with printing head inprinting position.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an alternate printing head.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the adhesive label drive wheel.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. I0 is a sectional view taken on lines l0l0 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the adhesive label drive wheel.

FIG. 12 is a view of an alternate drive assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the exploded view ofFIG. 1, the marking gun 10 is illustrated with an access cover 12displaced in a normal manner for inserting a roll 14 of precut adhesivelabels 16 carried on a separable backing tape 18.

The marking gun has a molded outer casing 20 with a pistol grip handle22 and operating trigger 24. With the cover 12 snapped in place the unitcomprises a compact enclosed marking tool that is simple to operate.With each squeeze of the trigger a marked label is partially emittedbetween a guide tip roller 26 and an applicator roller 28 at the tip 30of the marking gun. By lightly pressing the applicator roller 28 to theitem to be labeled and downwardly moving the marking gun 10, the markedlabel is removed from the tip 30 of the gun and rolled onto the item.

The exploded view of FIG. 1 depicts the path that the adhesive labels 16and backing tape 18 traverses as it unwinds from the roll 14. Thebacking tape has pairs of incremental transverse and centrally locatedperforation slits positioned adjacent the incremental label cuts of thepre-cut adhesive labels. The backing tape 18 separates from the labelsat the tip 30 of the gun, where the labels 16 are emitted, and switchesback through the gun to exit from a slot 32 above the handle 22. Thepath of the labels and tape is shown in greater detail in subsequentfigures of the drawing.

The labels and backing tape are supplied from the roll 14 which has amolded plastic core 34, illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the core 34 is shown positioned within the enclosedcasing 20. The cylindrical core 34 has a concentrically located boss 36on one end 38 which fits into a bearing recess 40 on the casing 20. Theother end 42 of the core contains a concentrically located, beveledrecess 44 which is engaged by a boss 48 located on the cover 12. Thecore 34 is seated between a bearing surface 48 and a guide bar 50 whichaccurately position the core 34 and hence the roll 14 of labels andbacking tape within the casing 20. The configuration of the bearingsurface 48 is more clearly shown in FIG. 3.

Two inner concentric rings, 52 and 54, are beveled to guide the boss 36on the core 34 into the recess 40 when inserting a roll 14 of labels andbacking tape into the casing 22. By employing a boss on one end of thecore and a recess on the opposite end it is impossible to improperlyinsert the roll in the gun thereby preventing the marking gun fromprinting on the backing tape instead of the labels.

Referring to FIG. 4, the marking gun is illustrated in greater detail.The trigger 24 is shown mounted to a long pivot arm 56 which ispartially concealed by a fixed plate 58 fastened to the casing 20. Thetrigger 24 is maintained in a preoperative position by a spring 60 whichis attached at one end to the pivot arm 56 and at the opposite end to aretainer 62 on the casing 20. At the distal end of the pivot arm 56 isfixed the printing head 64. When the trigger 24 is squeezed the pivotarm pivots on a pin 66 retained in a bearing sleeve 68 mounted to thefixed plate 58 by retaining ring 70. The printing head 64 swings to themarking position shown in FIG. 6 impressing an adhesive label with aselected marking.

Referring to FIG. 5, the printing head 64 comprises a series of fourrubber printing bands 72 each carried on a large roller (not visible)over a small backing block 74 between two support plates 76. The rollersare each fixed to a selector wheel 78 which by action of one s thumbrotates selectable printing characters 80 carried on the rubber bandsacross the backing block 74. The characters positioned on the backingblock 74 are impressed against a label when the trigger 24 of themarking gun is squeezed. The bands are maintained in tension by a seriesof idler rollers 82 which depress the bands 72 between the printingblock 74 and large rollers.

The printing head is fixed to a pin 84 at the distal end of the pivotarm 56 and secured by a retaining clip 86. The printing head 64 isprevented from rotating on the pin 84 by a small locking tab 88 on thepivot arm which engages a hole (not visible) in the support plate 76 ofthe printing head adjacent the distal end of the pivot arm 56.

The characters positioned against the printing block 74 are inked by anink roller 90 which rotates on an inker arm 92 pivotally mounted to thefixed plate 58 in the casing 20. The ink roller 90 is maintained againstthe characters at the printing block by a spring clip 94. As theprinting head 64 pivots to printing position, the ink roller 90 rollsacross the characters and out of the way of the printing head as shownin FIG. 6.

By releasing the retaining clip 86, the printing head 64 shown in FIGS;4 and 6 may be removed and replaced with an alternate printing head 98shown in FIG. 7. The alternate printing head 98 contains a double set ofprinting rollers 100 each transporting a series of rubber printing bandsl02 across idler rollers 104 and over twin printing blocks 98 forimpressing two lines of selectable characters 108 on the labels 16. Thecharacters 108 are selected by selector wheels 110 fixed to each of therollers 100 for individually controlling the transport of the printingbands 102 over the printing blocks 106 between the two support plates112 of the alternate printing head. For convenience, a thumb wheel 114riding on an arm 116 is provided to selectively engage any one of theselector wheels 110 for selection of the desired character from eachprinting band 102.

An additional block of fixed characters 1 18 is mountable between thelines of selectable characters 108 at the end of a detachable arm 120secured to a pin 122 on one of the support plates 112 of the printinghead. The selectable characters 108 and the fixed characters 118 areinked by the ink roller 84 in the same manner as the selectablecharacters 80 of the principal printing head 64 of the disclosure.

Considering again, the path of the adhesive labels l6 and backing tape18 from the supply roll 14, the tape and labels unwind from the bottomof the roll and pass under a flexible spring guide 124 which is attachedto a-punched tab 126 in the fixed plate 58. The spring guide 124maintains the labels and backing tape against a printing guide plate 128formed by bending a portion of the fixed plate. The backing tape 18switches back around the guide tip roller 26 discharging individualadhesive labels 16, which are unable to negotiate the switchback andseparate from the backing tape 18. The free end 130 of the printingguide plate 128 is partially bent to deflect the returning backing tapewhich threads over a wide, partially split guide spring 132 to 4 engagedrive wheel 134. By bending the free end of theprinting guide plate theeffective length of the tape path from guide tip roller 26, to drivewheel 134 can be adjusted. The adjustment provides a means ofpositioning the labels on the guide plate to center the impression ofthe printing head 64.

The guide spring 132 which receives the backing tape from the guideplate 128 is clipped at one end to the bearing sleeve 68 projecting fromthe fixed plate 58. The other end of the guide spring 132 rests on awall of the exit slot 32 permitting a degree of flexure to the middlesplit portion 132a of the guide spring for maintaining the backing tapein firm engagement with the drive wheel 134.

The drive wheel assembly is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 8, 9,10 and 11. As the backing tape 18 threads between the guide spring 132and the drive wheel 134, a series of radiallyprojecting drive teeth 134pierce the backing tape in previously provided perforation slitsincrementally spaced in the center of the tape. To separate the piercedtape 18 from the drive wheel, a wire spring clip 136 is forced to ridein a centrally located, circumferential groove 138 in the surface of thedrive wheel 134. The spring clip 136 lifts the tape from the drive wheeland guides it out the exit slot 32 of the gun, as shown in FIG. 10.Thus, as the drive wheel 134 is incrementally rotated, the adhesivelabels l6 and backing tape 18 are fed through the marking gun.

The drive wheel 134 is directly linked to the pivot arm 56, and hencethe printing head 64 and trigger 24 by a ratchet and pawl assembly whichis shown most clearly in FIG. 9.

The ratchet wheel 140 is an integral part of the drive wheel 134. Thepawl 142 is pivotally connected to a finger extension 144 of the pivotarm 56 by a pin 146 and retainer clip 148.

When the trigger is squeezed the pawl 142 moves to the position shown inphantom in FIG. 9. The foot 142a of the pawl 142a snaps in engagementwith the next adjacent seat 150 of the ratchet wheel 140 by bias from acoil spring 152 wrapped around the pin 146 and fixed at one end to thepawl 142 and at the other end to the finger extension 144. Overshoot ofthe pawl is prevented by stop 153. An extension 136a of the spring clip136 prevents the drive wheel 134 from backwardly rotating while the pawlis disengaged from the ratchet wheel 140 by engaging a seat of theratchet wheel as shown in FIG. 9.

When the trigger is released the drive wheel 134 is rotated on a spindle154 transporting the backing tape 18 the distance of a single label.Engagement for the tape transport is accomplished by the drive teeth 135which pierce the backing tape held on each edge against the drive wheel134 by the split portion 132a of the spring clip 132. The split portionof the spring clip permits the drive teeth 135 to pierce the centrallylocated perforation slits in the backing tape without engaging thespring clip 132.

To accommodate different sized adhesive labels, the drive wheel 134 andpawl 142 may be removed by releasing the retaining clip 148 at the pawlpivot pin 146 and a retaining clip 156 on spindle 154. The drive wheel135 and pawl 142 can then be replaced with an alternate drive wheel 158and paw] 160 shown in FIG. 12. The alternate drive assembly may beemployed in combination with the alternate double printing head 98 shownin FIG. 7 to totally change the marking capabilities of the marking gun.

I claim:

1. In an adhesive label printer having an operating trigger and aprinting head with a plurality of selectable characters, the printerbeing adapted to operate in combination with pre-cut adhesive labelscarried on a separable backing tape with spaced perforations, theimprovement comprising a drive assembly adapted to incrementallytransport the labels and backing tape on predetermined paths including:

a. a reciprocating pivot arm having the operating trigger mounted at oneend and the printing head mounted at the opposite end, said arm beingpivotally mounted in the printer for reciprocal movement between apreoperative position and a marking position by operation of thetrigger;

b. a cylindrical drive wheel having radially disposed drive teetharranged to engage the perforations in the backing tape and having anintegral ratchet wheel with a predetermined number of drive seats, saiddrive wheel being rotatably mounted in the printer adjacent the pivotarm;

c. a spring member having one end mounted in the printer and anextension end biased to selectively engage a seat of said ratchet wheeland restrain movement of said ratchet wheel and .said drive wheel whensaid arm is moved from the preoperative position to the marking positionby displacement of the trigger; and

d. a pawl pivotally linked to said pivot arm and arranged to engage aseat of said ratchet wheel and advance said drive wheel a predeterminedincrement when said arm is moved from the marking position to thepreoperative position by return of the trigger.

2. The adhesive label printer of claim 1 wherein the printing head, andthe drive wheel and pawl described therein are selectively replaceablewith a printing head having a multiple plurality of selectablecharacters, a drive wheel having drive teeth arranged to engageperforations in a backing tape with more distantly spaced perforationsand a pawl arranged to engage a modified ratchet wheel and advance saiddrive wheel an increased predetermined increment for use with'labels ofincreased size.

3. In the adhesive label printer of claim 1, the improvement comprisingfurther:

a. a printing guide plate fixed in the printer and so constructed andarranged that the adhesive labels and backing tape are supportable onthe guide plate, and the printing head is directed against a printingportion of the guide plate and is contactable with at least one labelsupported thereon when said pivot arm is in said marking position; and

b. biasing means for imparting a pressure against said guide plate at alocation adjacent the printing portion and maintaining adhesive labelsand backing tape, arranged between said biasing means and guide plate,against said guide plate; said biasing means cooperating with said drivewheel to impart a tension to said back tape at said printing portion.

4. The improvement of claim 3 comprising further means connected to saidguide plate for removing said adhesive labels from said backing tape.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said means connected to said guideplate comprises a guide tip roller attached to the end of said guideplate, and guide means for switching said backing tape around saidroller, the adhesive labels separating from said backing tape at saidroller from an inherent stiffness of the labels.

6. In the adhesive label printer of claim 1, the improvement comprisingfurther:

a. guide means mounted in the printer having a guide elementcomplementary to said cylindrical drive wheel, the guide element havingrecesses adapted to receive drive teeth on the periphery of the drivewheel as said teeth are projected through the backing tape.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said guide element is springbiased against said drive wheel.

8. In the adhesive label printer of claim 1, the improvement comprisingfurther, roller means having an ink supply engageable with selectedcharacters on said printing head for inking said selected characters.

9. The combination of an adhesive label printer of claim 1 and a labelsupply having pre-cut adhesive labels carried on a separable backingtape with spaced perforations.

1. In an adhesive label printer having an operating trigger and aprinting head with a plurality of selectable characters, the printerbeing adapted to operate in combination with pre-cut adhesive labelscarried on a separable backing tape with spaced perforations, theimprovement comprising a drive assembly adapted to incrementallytransport the labels and backing tape on predetermined paths including:a. a reciprocating pivot arm having the operating trigger mounted at oneend and the printing head mounted at the opposite end, said arm beingpivotally mounted in the printer for reciprocal movement between apreoperative position and a marking position by operation of thetrigger; b. a cylindrical drive wheel having radially disposed driveteeth arranged to engage the perforations in the backing tape and havingan integral ratchet wheel with a predetermined number of drive seats,said drive wheel being rotatably mounted in the printer adjacent thepivot arm; c. a spring member having one end mounted in the printer andan extension end biased to selectively engage a seat of said ratchetwheel and restrain movement of said ratchet wheel and said drive wheelwhen said arm is moved from the preoperative position to the markingposition by displacement of the trigger; and d. a pawl pivotally linkedto said pivot arm and arranged to engage a seat of said ratchet wheeland advance said drive whEel a predetermined increment when said arm ismoved from the marking position to the preoperative position by returnof the trigger.
 2. The adhesive label printer of claim 1 wherein theprinting head, and the drive wheel and pawl described therein areselectively replaceable with a printing head having a multiple pluralityof selectable characters, a drive wheel having drive teeth arranged toengage perforations in a backing tape with more distantly spacedperforations and a pawl arranged to engage a modified ratchet wheel andadvance said drive wheel an increased predetermined increment for usewith labels of increased size.
 3. In the adhesive label printer of claim1, the improvement comprising further: a. a printing guide plate fixedin the printer and so constructed and arranged that the adhesive labelsand backing tape are supportable on the guide plate, and the printinghead is directed against a printing portion of the guide plate and iscontactable with at least one label supported thereon when said pivotarm is in said marking position; and b. biasing means for imparting apressure against said guide plate at a location adjacent the printingportion and maintaining adhesive labels and backing tape, arrangedbetween said biasing means and guide plate, against said guide plate;said biasing means cooperating with said drive wheel to impart a tensionto said back tape at said printing portion.
 4. The improvement of claim3 comprising further means connected to said guide plate for removingsaid adhesive labels from said backing tape.
 5. The improvement of claim4 wherein said means connected to said guide plate comprises a guide tiproller attached to the end of said guide plate, and guide means forswitching said backing tape around said roller, the adhesive labelsseparating from said backing tape at said roller from an inherentstiffness of the labels.
 6. In the adhesive label printer of claim 1,the improvement comprising further: a. guide means mounted in theprinter having a guide element complementary to said cylindrical drivewheel, the guide element having recesses adapted to receive drive teethon the periphery of the drive wheel as said teeth are projected throughthe backing tape.
 7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said guideelement is spring biased against said drive wheel.
 8. In the adhesivelabel printer of claim 1, the improvement comprising further, rollermeans having an ink supply engageable with selected characters on saidprinting head for inking said selected characters.
 9. The combination ofan adhesive label printer of claim 1 and a label supply having pre-cutadhesive labels carried on a separable backing tape with spacedperforations.